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Bristol Fighter (car)
Encyclopedia
The Bristol Fighter is a British sports car, manufactured by Bristol Cars in small numbers from 2004, and described by commentators as a supercar
.
The coupé
body, which has gullwing doors, was designed by former Brabham Formula One
engineer Max Boxstrom and gives the car a Cd
of 0.28.
The car uses a front-mounted V10 engine
of 7,996 cc (487.9 ci) based on that of the Dodge Viper
and the Dodge Ram SRT-10 pick up
(it was originally based on the Chrysler LA engine
), but modified by Bristol to produce 525 bhp at 5,600 rpm and 515 lbft of torque at 4,200 rpm. This is in keeping with Bristol's use of Chrysler
engines since 1961. In the more powerful Fighter S the engine is tuned to give 628 hp (660 hp at high speed using the ram air effect). The car's weight is 1600 kg (3,527 lb).
The car has a six-speed manual
or four-speed automatic transmission
, and is rear-wheel drive. It can achieve the 0–60 mph (0–26.8 ) sprint in 4.0 seconds (claimed), and enjoys a power-to-weight ratio of 267.8 kW/ton (362 bhp/ton). The car has a claimed top speed of 210 mi/h and the driver can be 6 in 7 in (2.01 m) tall at maximum.
Although sketches and models had been publicised some time before, a complete car was first shown to the press in May 2003. The first drive by a car magazine appears to be that in the April 2005 issue of Evo Magazine
.
, which has advertised 1001 PS, but still less powerful than the 2007 Shelby Super Cars (SSC) Ultimate Aero TT
. The first production cars were delivered in September 2007.
Supercar
Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
.
The coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
body, which has gullwing doors, was designed by former Brabham Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
engineer Max Boxstrom and gives the car a Cd
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of 0.28.
The car uses a front-mounted V10 engine
V10 engine
A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion...
of 7,996 cc (487.9 ci) based on that of the Dodge Viper
Dodge Viper
The first prototype was tested in January 1989. It debuted in 1991 with two pre-production models as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Japanese-built Stealth because of complaints from the United Auto Workers, and went on sale in January...
and the Dodge Ram SRT-10 pick up
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
(it was originally based on the Chrysler LA engine
Chrysler LA engine
The LA engines are a family of pushrod OHV 90° V-block gasoline engines built by Chrysler Corporation and factory-installed in passenger vehicles, trucks and vans, commercial vehicles, marine and industrial applications from 1964 through 2003...
), but modified by Bristol to produce 525 bhp at 5,600 rpm and 515 lbft of torque at 4,200 rpm. This is in keeping with Bristol's use of Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
engines since 1961. In the more powerful Fighter S the engine is tuned to give 628 hp (660 hp at high speed using the ram air effect). The car's weight is 1600 kg (3,527 lb).
The car has a six-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or four-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, and is rear-wheel drive. It can achieve the 0–60 mph (0–26.8 ) sprint in 4.0 seconds (claimed), and enjoys a power-to-weight ratio of 267.8 kW/ton (362 bhp/ton). The car has a claimed top speed of 210 mi/h and the driver can be 6 in 7 in (2.01 m) tall at maximum.
Although sketches and models had been publicised some time before, a complete car was first shown to the press in May 2003. The first drive by a car magazine appears to be that in the April 2005 issue of Evo Magazine
Evo Magazine
Evo is a British automobile magazine dedicated to performance cars, from hot hatches to supercars. The first issue was produced in November 1998 as an unofficial successor to Performance Car, which had been closed and integrated into Car Magazine by publisher Emap. "Evo" is published 13 times a...
.
Fighter T
In 2006, Bristol announced the Fighter T, a turbocharged version of the Fighter with a modified V10 engine producing 1012 bhp and 1036 lbft of torque at 4,500 rpm. This also marking the first turbocharged petrol powered V10 production car. The Fighter T will also benefit from a drag coefficient of Cd 0.27 (improved from Cd 0.28 on the standard model). Bristol claim that the car is capable of more than 270 mi/h; however it will be electronically limited to a "more than adequate" 225 mi/h. When the Fighter T went into production, it was more powerful than Bugatti VeyronBugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of . The original version has a top speed of...
, which has advertised 1001 PS, but still less powerful than the 2007 Shelby Super Cars (SSC) Ultimate Aero TT
SSC Aero
The SSC Ultimate Aero is an American-built mid-engine supercar by Shelby SuperCars. The higher-performance limited production version previously held the Guinness Book of World Records record for being the fastest production car in the world , with a recorded speed of...
. The first production cars were delivered in September 2007.
Specifications
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Max power | Max torque | Acceleration 0-60 mph/s | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter | V10 | 7994 cc | 525 bhp @ 5,500 rpm | 525 lbft @ 4,200 rpm | c 4.0 | 210 mi/h |
| Fighter S | V10 | 7994 cc | 628 bhp @ 5,900 rpm | 580 lbft @ 3,900 rpm | 4.0 | 210 mi/h |
| Fighter T | V10 turbo | 7994 cc | 1012 bhp @ 5,600 rpm | 1036 lbft @ 4,500 rpm | 3.5 | 225 mi/h limited |